Many expected the 49ers to cruise on the road against the Browns because they were forced to start backup quarterback PJ Walker due to Deshaun Watson’s shoulder injury. But many were wrong, including all of us at MMQB.
We also all incorrectly chose the Eagles to beat the Jets. (Sorry about the reminders, colleagues.) With the Jets and Browns pulling off the upsets, there are no undefeated teams in the NFL after six weeks. Pop them bottles, 1972 Dolphins!
The 49ers were the safe bet to win, but many failed to remember that the Browns have one of the best defenses in the league. The Browns’ dominant defense is no longer being overlooked after their 19–17 victory.
Oh, and we also forgot about Jim Schwartz’s undefeated streak against 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, but more on that in a bit.
The Jets’ stellar defense also made a statement during their 20–14 win against the Eagles.
We learned plenty about the Browns’ and Jets’ defenses on Sunday. But that’s not all we learned in Week 6 of the NFL season.
Browns make case for having the best defense in NFL
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The Browns’ defense deserves a ton of credit for handing the 49ers their first loss of the season and containing their explosive offense. Yes, the 49ers didn’t have Deebo Samuel (shoulder) for most of the game and Christian McCaffrey (oblique) missed most of the fourth quarter. But the Browns have given most offenses fits this season, as they entered Sunday with the best total defense in terms of yards allowed per game (200.4). 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy saw constant pressure and struggled to get in any rhythm, completing 12-of-27 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
On the final drive, the 49ers could have gained a few more yards for their rookie kicker Jake Moody. Instead, San Francisco decided to spike the ball instead of risking a loss of yards. Moody followed by missing a potential game-winning, 41-yard field goal, sealing the Browns’ signature victory. Cleveland (3–2) held San Francisco (5–1) to 215 yards—the first time the 49ers were held under 300 yards in a game since Week 3 of last season.
San Francisco also has a strong defense, but the team that won might have the best defense in the league. The hiring of Schwartz as defensive coordinator is paying off for the Browns. Fun fact: Shanahan is 1–9 in games against Schwartz since they first clashed as coordinators in 2008.
Jets have new life after upset win vs. Eagles
The Jets’ defense gave Jalen Hurts one of his worst games in recent memory, forcing the star quarterback into three interceptions to end the Eagles’ undefeated streak. It was also the Jets’ first win ever against the Eagles in 13 attempts. Robert Saleh’s defense deserves the bulk of the credit (they held the Eagles to 80 rushing yards), but Zach Wilson again did enough for the Jets’ offense.
Wilson (19-of-33, 186 yards) didn’t have a turnover and leaned on star wide receiver Garrett Wilson (eight catches, 90 yards) to keep drives alive. With the defense surging and Zach Wilson improving, New York (3–3) might now have a chance to advance into the playoffs, as Aaron Rodgers continues his rehab for the Achilles injury he sustained in Week 1.
Chiefs need to add a receiver to help sluggish offense
I repeatedly nodded my head as I heard Tony Gonzalez on the Amazon Prime broadcast say the Chiefs might have lost Thursday night had they played a different team not named the Broncos. The Chiefs only had three points for most of the first half before holding on for a 19–8 victory. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are good enough offensively to continue the Chiefs’ winning ways, especially with a productive defense. But it’s evident they need more help on the offensive side. If they don’t find it before the Oct. 31 trade deadline, it might cost the Chiefs in the postseason.
The Bengals and Jaguars have woken up after slow starts to the season, and the high scoring offenses of the Bills and Dolphins will likely be in the mix again. The Chiefs will need to score touchdowns against those teams. Also, the Chiefs lack depth and are heavily reliant on Kelce being available on the field. The Chiefs likely can’t convince the Broncos to trade Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy to an AFC West rival, but there will likely be a handful of other notable wide receivers available. Perhaps they can work out a deal with the Cardinals for Marquise Brown.
Rams lean on Kyren Williams to overcome slow start
The football tape grinders have been fascinated by the Rams’ offense this season, but the well-designed plays hadn’t led to many points for Sean McVay’s crew until the second half of Sunday’s win against the Cardinals. Los Angeles entered halftime trailing 9–6 and was 0-of-5 on third down during the first half. McVay adjusted by feeding running back Kyren Williams, who had a monster outing with 20 carries for 158 yards and one touchdown during the 26–9 victory.
In all three wins for the Rams (3–3) this season, they stayed committed to the running game, including in Week 1 against the Seahawks (40 carries for 92 rushing yards) and Week 4 against the Colts (164 rushing yards). Earlier this season, the Rams traded disgruntled running back Cam Akers to the Vikings because of Williams’s hot start. They made the right move, but they have to keep Williams involved in every game moving forward to assist Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua in the passing game. Williams, however, exited early with an ankle injury.
Texans could flirt with 10 wins this season
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Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud again found success against one of the best defenses in the league, as the Texans defeated the Saints, 20–13. Obviously, Stroud’s interception-free streak wasn’t going to last, but he quickly brushed off his first career interception to guide the Texans to their first touchdown against the Saints—a one-yard pass to tight end Dalton Schultz. Stroud (13-of-27, 199 yards, two TDs, 1 INT) has gotten many Houston playmakers involved this season, and might be the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Texans’ defense has also been formidable, as the unit held the Saints’ rushing attack to 89 yards. On paper, the Texans (3–3) appear to have a favorable schedule, with games against the Panthers and Buccaneers the next two weeks. They also play the Cardinals, Broncos and Titans twice this season. If the Texans are able to handle business against teams they’re supposed to beat, they might flirt with 10 wins and maybe even push for a playoff spot in the AFC, which would be one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 season.
